Computer cabinets having progressive air velocity cooling systems and associated methods of manufacture and use

ABSTRACT

Computer cabinets, such as supercomputer cabinets, having progressive air velocity cooling systems are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer cabinet includes an air mover positioned beneath a plurality of computer module compartments. The computer module compartments can be arranged in tiers with the computer modules in each successive tier being positioned closer together than the computer modules in the tier directly below. The computer cabinet can also include one or more shrouds, flow restrictors, and/or sidewalls that further control the direction and/or speed of the cooling air flow through the cabinet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/763,977, filed Apr. 20, 2010, and entitled “COMPUTER-CABINETS HAVINGPROGRESSIVE AIR VELOCITY COOLING SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OFMANUFACTURE AND USE,” which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

APPLICATION(S) INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/060,377, filed Apr. 1, 2008, andentitled “AIRFLOW MANAGEMENT APPARATUS FOR COMPUTER CABINETS ANDASSOCIATED METHODS,” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,898,799, is incorporated hereinin its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following disclosure relates generally to systems and method forcontrolling air flow in computer cabinets, and to associated methods ofmanufacture and use.

BACKGROUND

Supercomputers and other large computer systems typically include alarge number of computer cabinets positioned close together in rows toconserve floor space and reduce cable length. FIG. 1, for example,illustrates a portion of a prior art supercomputer system 100 having aplurality of computer cabinets 110 arranged in a bank. Each of thecomputer cabinets 110 includes a plurality of computer modulecompartments 118 (identified individually as a first module compartment118 a, a second module compartment 118 b, and a third module compartment118 c). Each module compartment 118 holds a plurality of computermodules 112. Each of the computer modules 112 can include a motherboardelectrically connecting a plurality of processors, memory modules,routers, and other microelectronic devices together for data and/orpower transmission. Like the computer cabinets 110, the computer modules112 are also positioned in close proximity to each other to conservespace and increase computational speed by reducing cable length.

Many of the electronic devices typically found in supercomputers, suchas fast processing devices, generate considerable heat during operation.This heat can damage the device and/or degrade performance if notsufficiently dissipated during operation. For this reason,supercomputers typically include both active and passive cooling systemsto maintain device temperatures at acceptable levels.

To dissipate heat during operation, a fan 120 is mounted to the upperportion of each of the computer cabinets 110. In operation, theindividual fans 120 draw cooling air into the corresponding computercabinet 110 through a front inlet 114 and/or a rear inlet 115 positionedtoward a bottom portion of the computer cabinet 110. The fan 120 thendraws the cooling air upwardly past the computer modules 112, into acentral inlet 122, and out of the computer cabinet 110 in a radialpattern through a circumferential outlet 124.

The fans 120 may be unable to move a sufficient amount of air throughthe computer cabinet 110 for adequate cooling when the power consumptionand heat generated by the processors and/or other microelectronicdevices increases. For example, as the power consumption of theprocessors increases, the computer modules 112 in the first modulecompartment 118 a heat the incoming cooling air to a higher temperature.To compensate for the higher temperature of the air entering the secondmodule compartment 118 b, conventional techniques use baffle plates (notshown) to direct more cooling air over the processors. This can increasethe pressure drop over the processors, however, and the fans 120 may beunable to compensate for the pressure drop. As a result, the cooling airflowing past the processors may be insufficient and lead to overheating,which can adversely affect performance of the computer system 100.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a bank of computer cabinets havingtop-mounted cooling fans in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a computer cabinet configured inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of a computer module from thecomputer cabinet of FIG. 2 configured in accordance with an embodimentof the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of a partially assembled circuitboard from the computer module of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a partially exploded isometric view of a heat sink and thecircuit board of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is an isometric view after the heatsink has been mounted to the circuit board.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a main circuit board from the computermodule of FIG. 3 configured in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front elevation view of the computer cabinet ofFIG. 2, illustrating a tiered computer module arrangement configured inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged isometric view taken from FIG. 7, illustrating avertical arrangement of circuit boards configured in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams illustrating representativeairflows associated with the circuit board arrangement of FIG. 8 inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes various embodiments of methods andsystems for progressive air velocity cooling of electronic components incomputer cabinets (e.g., tiered computer cabinets). Computer cabinets insupercomputers and other data centers can ingest relatively hot (e.g.,50° C. or higher) surrounding air for cooling in many global locations.Moreover, to reduce energy costs associated with operation in suchlocations, it is often desirable to operate the fans in the computercabinets at a relatively low pressure and flow. These factors can leadto relatively high operating temperatures, and unfortunately many of theexisting approaches to such free air cooling, such as liquid cooling atthe cabinet or component level, air cooling with high flow rates, and/orair cooling with many fans or high powered fans, fall short inperformance or are costly to implement.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the challenges associatedwith free air cooling are addressed by a vertical airflow computercabinet in which the pitch or spacing between individual computermodules is decreased as the airflow progresses (e.g., upwardly) throughthe cabinet. This can increase the air stream velocity as the airprogresses through the cabinet. The increased velocity increases theheat transfer coefficient of the air and offsets the elevated airtemperature caused by the upstream electronic devices. Because highvelocity is not needed near the upstream computer modules where thetemperature of the entering air is relatively low, the pitch between theupstream computer modules can be larger than the downstream modules toreduce the air pressure drop associated with the upstream modules.Accordingly, computer cabinets configured in accordance with the presentdisclosure can be designed to provide increased airflow velocity onlywhere needed.

In addition, shrouds and/or other structures configured in accordancewith the present disclosure can be utilized to control the flow ofcooling air through or around heat sinks and adjacent component “lanes”(e.g., memory lanes) to further “tune” and improve cooling efficiency.The various methods and systems described herein can increase theuniformity of device temperatures within a computer cabinet and reducethe necessary air pressure and flow rate required to cool such devicesunder relatively high ambient temperatures. Moreover, the methods andsystems described herein can facilitate compact designs of computercabinets, leading to relatively high density data centers and,accordingly, lower facility operating costs.

Certain details are set forth in the following description and in FIGS.2-9B to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of thedisclosure. Other details describing well-known structures and systemsoften associated with computer cabinets, computer components, coolingsystems, etc. have not been set forth in the following disclosure toavoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodimentsof the disclosure.

Many of the details, dimensions, angles and other features shown in theFigures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of thedisclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details,dimensions, angles and features without departing from the spirit orscope of the present invention. In addition, those of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate that further embodiments of the invention can bepracticed without several of the details described below.

In the Figures, identical reference numbers identify identical, or atleast generally similar, elements. To facilitate the discussion of anyparticular element, the most significant digit or digits of anyreference number refers to the Figure in which that element is firstintroduced. For example, element 210 is first introduced and discussedwith reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a computer cabinet 210 having aprogressive velocity cooling system configured in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure. The computer cabinet 210 includes achassis 230 housing a plurality of computer module compartments 218(identified individually as a first computer module compartment 218 a, asecond computer module compartment 218 b, a third computer modulecompartment 218 c, and a fourth computer module compartment 218 d). Eachof the computer module compartments 218 carries a plurality ofcorresponding computer modules 212 positioned in edgewise orientationrelative to the flow of cooling air moving upwardly through the chassis230. For example, the first computer module compartment 218 a carriescomputer modules 212 a-212 d, the second computer module compartment 218b carries computer modules 212 e-212 h, and so on.

The computer cabinet 210 can further include a plurality of networkswitches 234 and a power supply 232. The power supply 232 includes aplurality of outlet connectors 236 that provide electrical power to theindividual computer modules 212 via a plurality of inlet connectors 238.In the illustrated embodiment, an individual shroud 270 is positionedaround each of the computer modules 212. Each of the shrouds 270 caninclude a front panel 274 a, a rear panel 274 b, and a side panel 274 cthat cover a front, rear, and side portion, respectively, of thecorresponding computer module 212. As described below, each of thecomputer modules 212 can further include a motherboard that serves as acover for the remaining side of the computer module.

An air mover 220 (e.g., a high output blower or fan) is positionedbeneath computer module compartments 218 and is configured to drive aflow of cooling air upwardly through the computer cabinet 210. In otherembodiments, however, the air mover 220 and/or other air moving devicescan be positioned in other locations in, on, or around the computercabinet 210, such as above the computer module compartments 218. In yetother embodiments, the air mover 220 or similar devices can bepositioned away from the computer cabinet 210.

In one aspect of this embodiment, the computer modules 212 e-h in thesecond computer module compartment 218 b are positioned closer togetherthan the computer modules 212 a-d in the first computer modulecompartment 218 a, and the computer modules 212 in the third and fourthcomputer module compartments 218 c, d are similarly arranged (i.e., themodule-to-module pitch or spacing decreases with each successivecomputer module compartment). As described in greater detail below,decreasing the module-to-module spacing in this manner reduces the sizeof the open passages between the individual computer modules 212 andbeneficially increases the velocity of cooling air as it flows upwardlythrough the computer cabinet 210 from the air mover 220. If each of thecomputer module compartments 218 holds the same number of computermodules 212 (e.g. four), then each successive computer modulecompartment 218 will be narrower than the computer module compartment218 positioned directly below it. In the illustrated embodiment, thecomputer cabinet 210 includes a rear panel 323, a first side panel 272a, and an opposing second side panel 272 b that that are configured toaccommodate the tiered architecture of the computer module compartments218. More specifically, the side panels 272 are stepped or tieredinwardly as they proceed upwardly to reduce the air flow bypass areaaround the outside of the computer modules 212 and further control thedirection and/or velocity of the cooling air flowing upwardly throughthe computer cabinet 210.

In operation, the air mover 220 draws ambient air from the surroundingroom into the cabinet 210 via a plurality of air inlets 214 positionedbeneath the chassis 230. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlets 214are formed by gaps between the lower edge portions of the chassis 230and the floor of the computer facility. In other embodiments, air from afloor plenum can flow into the bottom of the cabinet 210 through anopening in the sub-floor directly beneath the cabinet, or from one ormore of other suitable air inlets. The air mover 220 draws the coolingair in through an air mover inlet 222, and drives the air upwardlythrough and/or around the computer modules 212 positioned in the firstcomputer module compartment 218 a. As mentioned above, the computermodules 212 are spaced relatively far apart in the first computer modulecompartment 218 a. After passing through the first computer modulecompartment 218 a, the cooling air proceeds upwardly through the secondcomputer module compartment 218 b. As mentioned above, the computermodules 212 in the second computer module compartment 218 b arepositioned closer together than the computer modules 212 in the firstcomputer module compartment 218 a. As a result, the air flow velocityincreases as the cooling air moves into the second computer modulecompartment 218 b because of the reduced flow area. The increase inairspeed can compensate for the higher heat content of the cooling aircaused by absorbing heat from the electronic devices mounted to thecomputer modules 212 a-d in the first computer module compartment 218 a.

From the second computer module compartment 218 b, the cooling aircontinues flowing upwardly through the third computer module compartment218 c, and then through the fourth computer module compartment 218 d. Asmentioned above, the computer module spacing gets progressively tighter(i.e., it decreases) moving upwardly through the cabinet 210, so thatthe airspeed also increases to compensate for the higher heatabsorption. Once the cooling air has flowed through the fourth computermodule compartment 218 d, it exits the computer cabinet 210 via aplurality of outlets 224 (identified individually as outlets 224 a-d).The upper portion of the computer cabinet 210 can include one or moreairflow restrictors 240 (identified individually as airflow restrictors240 a-d), such as perforated plates, that are disposed adjacent to theairflow outlets 224 to further control the flow of cooling air throughand out of the computer cabinet 210. One or more of the airflowrestrictors 240 can be configured as described in co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/060,377, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the first computer module 212 afrom the computer cabinet 210 of FIG. 2 with the corresponding shroud270 removed for clarity. Although the first computer module 212 a isshown in FIG. 3 and described in greater detail below, the othercomputer modules 212 can be at least generally similar in structure andfunction to the first computer module 212 a. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the computer module 212 a includes a main circuit board ormotherboard 301 that carries a plurality of smaller circuit boards 312.The smaller circuit boards 312 can be expansion cards, or processordaughtercards, or simply just daughtercards, and will be referred toherein as daughtercards 312 for ease of reference. In the illustratedembodiment, the motherboard 301 carriers 44 daughtercards 312 in tworows of 22 daughtercards each in a side-by-side perpendiculararrangement with respect to the motherboard 301. In addition, a networkswitch card 314 and a controller card 316 are positioned at each end ofthe motherboard 301. The power inlet connector 238 is also positioned atone end of the computer module 212, and power cards 318 are positionedon a mid portion of the motherboard 301.

As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the foregoingdescription of the computer module 212 is merely representative of oneexample of a computer module that can be utilized in a progressivevelocity computer cabinet configured in accordance with the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to theparticular configuration of computer module described above withreference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of the daughtercard 312. In theillustrated embodiment, the daughtercard 312 includes a mountingsubstrate or printed circuit board 450 that carries one or moreprocessors 416, voltage regulators 418, a controller 420, and one ormore expansion cards 422. The daughtercard 312 can further include oneor more (e.g., two) memory modules 414 that are releasably clipped ontothe printed circuit board 450 in a generally perpendicular arrangementtoward an outer edge portion of the printed circuit board 450. Moreover,the printed circuit board 450 can include an edge connector 452 forreleasably connecting the daughtercard 312 to the motherboard 301 asdescribed in greater detail below.

In the illustrated embodiment, all of the daughtercards 312 can be atleast generally similar in structure and function to the daughtercard312 described above with reference to FIG. 4. As those of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate, however, the daughtercard 312 illustrated inFIG. 4 is merely representative of one particular configuration ofdaughtercard, or expansion card, etc. that can be utilized with computermodules configured in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A is an exploded isometric view of the daughtercard 312 and a heatsink 560, and FIG. 5B is an isometric view of the daughtercard 312 afterthe heat sink 560 has been mounted to the motherboard 450. Referringfirst to FIG. 5A, various types of heat sinks, such as aluminum or othermetallic heat sinks having a plurality of cooling fins, can be mountedto the printed circuit board 450 in contact with the processor 416, thecontroller 420, and/or other electronic components to enhance thecooling of these electronic devices during operation of the computercabinet 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the heat sink 560 includes abase portion 566 that contacts the electronic components on the printedcircuit board 450, and a plurality of coplanar cooling fins 568extending upwardly therefrom. One or more fasteners 564 (e.g., threadedfasteners extending through corresponding coil springs and/or otherbiasing devices) can be used to secure the heat sink 560 to the printedcircuit board 450 as shown in FIG. 5B. In addition, one or more heatsinks 562, including finned heat sinks, can also be mounted to thememory modules 414 to provide cooling during operation.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the motherboard 301 prior to attachmentor mounting of the daughtercards 312. As this view illustrates, themotherboard 301 can include a plurality of connectors 602 (e.g.,expansion slots) configured to receive the edge connectors 452 of thecorresponding daughtercards 312 (FIG. 4). Referring to FIGS. 3-6together, the edge connectors 452 of each daughtercard 312 can bereleasably engaged to a corresponding connector 602 to secure thedaughtercards 312 to the motherboard 301 in a generally coplanarorientation. Moreover, the foregoing configuration of the computermodule 212 enables the motherboard 301 and the correspondingdaughtercards 312 to be positioned in edgewise orientation relative tothe upward airflow through the computer cabinet 210 during operation(FIG. 2).

FIG. 7 is a schematic front elevation view of the computer cabinet 210configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Thecooling air flowing into the first computer module 218 a from the airmover 220 (FIG. 2) is indicated by the arrows 721, and the cooling airexhausting from the top portion of the computer cabinet 210 is indicatedby the arrows 723. As this view illustrates, the spacing between thecomputer modules 212 is reduced with each successive computer modulecompartment 218. As a result, after the first computer modulecompartment 218 a, each of the subsequent computer module compartments218 is narrower than the computer module compartment positioned directlybelow it, resulting in a tiered arrangement. More specifically, in theillustrated embodiment the computer modules 212 in the first computermodule compartment 218 a are spaced apart by a first module spacing orpitch P₁ that is greater than a second pitch P₂ between the computermodules 212 in the second computer module compartment 218 b. Similarly,the second pitch P₂ is greater than a third spacing or pitch P₃ betweenthe computer modules 212 in the third computer module compartment 218 c,which is greater than a fourth pitch P₄ between the computer modules 212in the fourth computer module compartment 218 d.

In another aspect of this embodiment, each of the side panels 272includes a first sidewall portion 774 a, a second sidewall portion 774b, and a third sidewall portion 774 c. In the illustrated embodiment,the first sidewall portion 774 a is spaced apart from the first computermodule 212 a by a first bypass distance B₁ to form a first open passageor bypass lane 782 a. The second sidewall portion 774 b is similarlyspaced apart or offset from the fifth computer module 212 e by a secondbypass distance B₂ to form a second bypass lane 782 b, and the thirdsidewall portion 774 c is offset from the ninth computer module 212 i bya third bypass distance B₃ to form a third bypass lane 782 c. In theillustrated embodiment, the bypass distances B decrease for eachsuccessive computer module compartment 218 so that the first bypassdistance B₁ is greater than the second bypass distance B₂, which isgreater than the third bypass distance B₃. As with the module pitch P,reducing the bypass distance B in the foregoing manner further reducesthe amount of open cross-sectional area in the bypass lanes 782 throughwhich cooling air can flow as it moves upwardly through the computercabinet 210. The reduced flow area causes the cooling air to acceleratethrough the upper computer module compartments 218, which maintains thecooling capacity of the air in spite of the increased air temperaturecaused by absorbing heat from the computer modules 212 in the lowercomputer module compartments 218.

In a further aspect of this embodiment, the computer cabinet 210 caninclude one or more flow restrictors 780 extending at least partiallybetween the computer modules 212 to restrict or otherwise control theairflow upwardly between the computer modules 212. For example, in theillustrated embodiment, the first computer module compartment 218 a caninclude a first flow restrictor 780 a extending outwardly from an upperportion of the motherboard 301 of the first computer module 212 a towardthe adjacent memory modules 414 of the second computer module 212 b. Thefirst flow restrictor 780 a can extend part of the distance betweenfirst and second computer modules 212 a, b, thereby leaving a relativelysmall gap between the upper portions of the computer modules 212 thoughwhich cooling air can flow. Each of the second and third computermodules 212 b, c can also include a corresponding flow restrictor 780 aas shown in FIG. 7. The second computer module compartment 218 b, thethird computer module compartment 218 c, and the fourth computer modulecompartment 218 d can also include similar flow restrictors 780 b, c,and d, respectively, extending at least partially across the gapsbetween the upper portions of the computer modules 212. Moreover, asmentioned above, the computer cabinet 210 can also include one or moreof the flow restrictors 240 positioned toward a top portion of thecomputer cabinet 210 in line with, for example, the memory modules 414to further direct the flow of cooling air away from the memory modulesand through the heat sinks associated with the processing devices on thecorresponding daughtercards 312 (FIGS. 5A and 5B).

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a “slice” or column of daughtercards 312taken from FIG. 7. In this view, the motherboards 301 which support thecorresponding daughtercards 312 and have been omitted for purposes ofclarity and illustration. As the flow of cooling air indicated by thearrows 721 flows upwardly into the first computer module compartment 218a, a portion of the air bypasses the first set of daughtercards 312 byflowing through the open first bypass lane 782 a between the firstsidewall portion 774 a and the column of memory modules 414 (e.g., the“memory lane”). As FIG. 8 illustrates, however, the bypass distances B(FIG. 7) between the sidewall portions 774 and the memory lane 414decrease as the airflow moves upwardly through the computer cabinet 210.As a result, the flow of bypass air progressively decreases and more ofthe cooling air is directed through the memory modules 414 and the heatsinks 560 on the daughtercards 312, before exiting the computer cabinetthrough the outlet 224 as indicated by the arrows 723.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams illustrating the relative volumeand speed of the airflow through the computer cabinet 210 in accordancewith an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring first to FIG. 9A, thevolume of air bypassing each of the computer modules 212, as identifiedby the arrows 925 a and b, decreases as the airflow moves upwardlythrough the computer cabinet 210. In addition, the flow of cooling airbypassing the memory modules 414 along the memory lane, as indicated bythe arrows 927 a-c, also decreases moving upwardly through the computercabinet 210, as does the processor bypass as indicated by the arrows929. In contrast, both the volume and speed of cooling air flowingbetween the individual daugtercards 312 (FIG. 8), as indicated by arrows931, increases with each successive computer module compartment 218.

Referring next to FIG. 9B, the velocity of the airflow flowing throughthe heat sinks 562 on the memory modules 414, as indicated by the arrows931 b-d, decreases as the airflow moves upwardly through the computercabinet 210. Conversely, as shown by the arrows 933 b-d, the velocity ofthe airflow through the heat sinks 560 on the processing devices andother electronic devices on the daughtercards 212 increases as theairflow moves upwardly through the computer cabinet 210 and absorbs moreheat. The decrease in flow speed of the airflow moving through the heatsinks 562 on the memory modules 414 is restricted and slowed by means ofthe flow restrictor 240 positioned at an upper portion of the computercabinet 210.

One advantage of some of the embodiments of the systems and methodsdescribed herein is that all, or at least a portion of the computermodules 212 can be identical, or at least generally similar in structureand function because the bypass lanes 782 and/or the air flowrestrictors 240 are formed by the cabinet 210, and are not part of theindividual modules 212. This can lead to lower manufacturing andoperating costs. In other embodiments, one or more of the computermodules 212 may be different and/or may include a portion of the bypasslanes 782 and/or the air flow restrictors 240.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments ofthe invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration,but that various modifications may be made without deviating from thespirit and scope of the various embodiments of the invention. Further,while various advantages associated with certain embodiments of theinvention have been described above in the context of those embodiments,other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not allembodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within thescope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited,except as by the appended claims.

I/we claim:
 1. A computer system comprising: a computer cabinet; an airmover configured to move a flow of cooling air through the computercabinet in a first direction; a first plurality of computer modules inedgewise orientation relative to the first direction; a second pluralityof computer modules in edgewise orientation relative to the firstdirection and positioned downstream from the first plurality of computermodules; and means for increasing the velocity of the cooling air as itmoves through the second plurality of computer modules.
 2. The computersystem of claim 1, further comprising: means for causing a first portionof the cooling air flowing from the air mover to bypass the firstplurality of computer modules; and means for causing a second portion ofthe cooling air flowing from the air mover to bypass the secondplurality of computer modules, wherein the second portion of cooling airis less than the first portion of cooling air.
 3. The computer system ofclaim 1 wherein the means for increasing the velocity of the cooling airas it moves through the second plurality of computer modules includesmeans for positioning the second plurality of computer modules closertogether than the first plurality of computer modules.
 4. The computersystem of claim 1 wherein the means for increasing the velocity of thecooling air as it moves through the second plurality of computer modulesincludes: a first computer module mounting structure that separates thefirst plurality of computer modules from each other by a first modulespacing in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; anda second computer module mounting structure that separates the secondplurality of computer modules from each other by a second module spacingin the second direction that is less than the first module spacing. 5.The computer system of claim 1 wherein the first and second computermodule compartments are configured to hold the same number of computermodules, wherein the first computer module compartment has a firstoverall width in a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection, and wherein the second computer module compartment has asecond overall width in the second direction that is less than the firstoverall width.
 6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the firstplurality of computer modules includes a first plurality of flat boardsin edgewise orientation relative to the first direction, wherein each ofthe first plurality of flat boards individually supports a firstplurality of electronic components, and wherein the second plurality ofcomputer modules includes a second plurality of flat boards in edgewiseorientation relative to the first direction, wherein each of the secondplurality of flat boards individually supports a second plurality ofelectronic components.
 7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein thefirst plurality of computer modules includes a first plurality ofprinted circuit boards in edgewise orientation relative to the firstdirection, wherein each of the first plurality of printed circuit boardsindividually supports at least one processing device and at least onememory device, and wherein the second plurality of computer modulesincludes a second plurality of printed circuit boards in edgewiseorientation relative to the first direction, wherein each of the secondplurality of printed circuit boards individually supports at least oneprocessing device and at least one memory device.
 8. A computer systemcomprising: a computer cabinet; means for carrying a first plurality ofcomputer modules in the computer cabinet, wherein the first plurality ofcomputer modules includes at least a first computer module spaced apartfrom a second computer to define a first open passageway therebetween,the first open passageway having a first cross-sectional flow area;means for carrying a second plurality of computer modules in thecomputer cabinet, wherein the second plurality of computer modulesincludes at least a third computer module spaced apart from a fourthcomputer module to define a second open passageway therebetween, thesecond open passageway having a second cross-sectional flow area that isless than the first cross-sectional flow area; and means for moving aflow of cooling air through the first open passageway at a first speed,and then moving the flow of cooling air through the second openpassageway at a second speed, higher than the first speed.
 9. Thecomputer system of claim 8, further comprising means for causing aportion of the cooling air flowing from the first open passageway tobypass the second open passage way.
 10. The computer system of claim 8wherein the means for moving a flow of cooling air includes means formoving a flow of cooling air through the first and second passagewaysparallel to a first direction, and wherein the computer system furthercomprises: means for separating the first plurality of computer modulesfrom each other by a first module spacing in a second directionperpendicular to the first direction; and means for separating thesecond plurality of computer modules from each other by a second modulespacing in the second direction that is less than the first modulespacing.
 11. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the means forcarrying a first plurality of computer modules and the means forcarrying a second plurality of computer modules each carries the samenumber of computer modules.
 12. The computer system of claim 8: whereinthe means for moving a flow of cooling air includes means for moving aflow of cooling air through the first and second passageways parallel toa first direction; wherein the means for carrying a first plurality ofcomputer modules has a first overall width in a second directionperpendicular to the first direction; wherein the means for carrying asecond plurality of computer modules has a second overall width in thesecond direction that is less than the first overall width.
 13. Thecomputer system of claim 8: wherein the means for moving a flow ofcooling air includes means for moving a flow of cooling air through thefirst and second passageways parallel to a first direction; wherein themeans for carrying a first plurality of computer modules has a firstoverall width in a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection; wherein the means for carrying a second plurality of computermodules has a second overall width in the second direction that is lessthan the first overall width; and wherein the means for carrying a firstplurality of computer modules and the means for carrying a secondplurality of computer modules each carries the same number of computermodules.
 14. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the first pluralityof computer modules includes a first plurality of flat boards inedgewise orientation relative to the first direction, wherein each ofthe first plurality of flat boards individually supports a firstplurality of electronic components, and wherein the second plurality ofcomputer modules includes a second plurality of flat boards in edgewiseorientation relative to the first direction, wherein each of the secondplurality of flat boards individually supports a second plurality ofelectronic components.
 15. The computer system of claim 8 wherein themeans for moving a flow of cooling air includes means for moving a flowof cooling air through the first and second passageways parallel to afirst direction, and wherein the computer system further comprises:means for spacing the first computer module apart from the secondcomputer module by a first distance parallel to a second direction,perpendicular to the first direction; and and means for spacing thethird computer module apart from the fourth computer module by a seconddistance that is less than the first distance.
 16. The computer systemof claim 8 wherein the means for carrying the first plurality ofcomputer modules includes means for carrying the first plurality ofcomputer modules in edgewise orientation relative to the flow of coolingair, and wherein the means for carrying the second plurality of computermodules includes means for carrying the second plurality of computermodules in edgewise orientation relative to the first direction anddownstream from the first plurality of computer modules.
 17. Thecomputer system of claim 8, further comprising: means for spacing afirst sidewall portion apart from the first computer module by a thirddistance to define a third open passageway therebetween; and means forspacing a second sidewall portion apart from the third computer moduleby a fourth distance that is less than the third distance to define afourth open passageway therebetween; and wherein the means for moving aflow of cooling air include means for— moving a first flow of coolingair through the first and second open passageways, and moving a secondflow of cooling air through the third and fourth open passageways.